aloha! Well, currently I have seven chickens in about a 50 sq. foot pen. even tho that seems fairly ample, they still seem to tear the grass to shreds leaving it barren and poopy. where I live in hawaii (kauai), we have no natural predators which is totally awesome. no hawks, weasels, raccoons etc. I usually let them out of them pen a few hours before sunset to roam the yard (about acres) in search of fresh bugs and grass. however, I live near a community path that some people (perhaps four or five on an average day) walk with their unleashed dogs. I guess what I am looking for is to find a breed of chicken that is independent enough to be able to dodge dogs, but dependent enough to come home to roost every night and lay eggs in the provided nests. I absolutely love to free range chickens and letting them forage to their little hearts content. The reason I ask is because recently a stupid dog murdered one of my chickens! It was a rhode island red and now I am wondering if your usual heavy breeds like RIR's, BO's, barred rocks, etc. are a little too fat, fearless (dumb) and slow. I mean that about the chickens in the nicest way of course, and am wondering if anyone has had any luck with other breeds free-ranging in dog territory...thanks in advance -josh
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Dog Proof Chickens
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post #2 of 7
7/31/12 at 7:50pm
post #3 of 7
8/2/12 at 10:50am
Dog will be dogs, unfortunately. I lost a hen to a dog once and she wasn't stupid. The dog was hungry and she was there... I agree with Den in Penn, maybe you should put a fence and keep the dogs away from your birds.
post #4 of 7
8/3/12 at 11:52am
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8/5/12 at 8:43am
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8/5/12 at 9:30am
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8/5/12 at 9:36am
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